[Athen] Jaws and javascript links

[Kilcommons,Cath]

Hi Stacy,

We recommend that our developers make sure all links are coded as standard anchors - an html link- and allow the JS to be the icing on the cake.  Most assistive technologies support onfocus and onblur, better than onmouseover and onmouseout. You can see an example of that at http://www.ot.cahs.colostate.edu/, (search the code for the "begin navigation menu" text comment.) 

You will also find that PDA devices do not support hover (or onmouseover).  If it is rewritten it will be more device independent as well as more accessible for people using alternate means of access.

Also remember that navigating with the mouse on a menu that creates flyout behaviors can be an issue for people with mobility issues.  

Using unordered lists and CSS can also help organize the content to be more usable.  

Best,
Cath
++++++
Cath Stager-Kilcommons
ACCESS Project
Access  Specialist
Assistive Technology Resource Center (ATRC)
Colorado State University
970-491-0788
http://accessibility.colostate.edu/
http://www.colostate.edu/Depts/ATRC/
cathk at cahs.colostate.edu